Gate.



No. 650,982. Patented lune 5, I900.

W. A. MURRAY.

GATE.

(Application filed Mar. 20, 1699.)

(Nu Model.)

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NITED STATES WILLIAM ARCHIBALD MURRAY,

IDATE'NT FFICE.

OF BOTHWELL, NElVZEALAND.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,982, dated June 5, 1900.

Application filed March 20,1899.

To all 1071 0771 it petty concern: 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ARCHIBALD MURRAY, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Bothwell, Glen Murray, in the county of Raglan, Colony of New Zealand, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Gates, of which the following is a specification.

The invention may applyto gates of any size or form; but it is intended more especially for gates for carriage-ways and will be described as such. The construction is strong, durable, and light. It presents but little surface for the wind. The material is largely wood,with one or more diagonal struts to maintain the form. The joints at the corners are cased with metal, and I apply a flexible tie of metal, with peculiarly-efficient means for tightening it, to maintain a contractile strain on the gate throughthe several metallic corner=pieces.

I provide simple means for making the gate self-shutting and facilitate the engagement of the gate with the confining means by antifriction-wheels.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent what I con sider the best means of carrying out the invention. A

Figure 1 isa side view showing the gate in the closed position. Fig. 2 is asection on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line '3 3 in Fig. 1. The remaining figures represent certain portions on a larger scale. Fig. 4 shows the yokewhich engages over the upper longitudinal stretch of the wire on each face and the hook-bolt used in connection therewith to draw it down in the act of tightening. Fig. 5 is a View of the part which is engaged by such hook-bolt to draw upward the lowerstretch of the wire tie on each face of the gate. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upper corner-piece which carries the upper slightly-inclined pivot. Fig. 7 is a corresponding view of the lower cornerpiece which carries the lower pivot. Fig. 8 shows an edge and a face view of one of the washers which serve as pulleys to receive the wire cord on each face at each corner of the gate. Fig. 9 is an elevation of a portion of the inner face of the fastening-post. Fig. 10

Serial No. '709,'728.- (No model.)

' is a corresponding view showing a modification.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they appear.

A is the supporting-post, and B the fastoning-post, bot-h standing vertically in the ground. 7

D D are the longitudinal top and bottom bars of the gate, and D D the uprights which connect them. These may beef hard wood fitted together with any form of joint which may be convenient. A simple miter-bevel serves well.

E is a strut-bar extending diagonally in the direction which receives the compressive strain due to the weight of the gate and of any person or other load sometimes accidentally or otherwise imposed thereon.

F is a corresponding strut extending diagonally in the opposite direction. This latter is only exposed to strain at rare intervals when some force is applied to lift the gate.

G is a horizontal piece the main function of which is to support the pivot for a latch H, which works within a keeper D on the upright D Mindicates the four corner-pieces, of metal. I will distinguish them by supernumerals. The corner-piece M at the upper left-hand corner has a pivot M on its upper face, located inward from the end of the gate.

M is the lower left-hand corner-piece, and

M apivot extending downward from its lower most pivot M turns in a bearing provided in an overhanging casting A, firmly set on the post A. The lower pivot M is received in a step A secured firmly at the proper lowlevel on the same post A. The form of the lower pivot is spheroidal. The collar above loosely covers the lower bearing and prevents the entrance of grit. The socket or cavity in which it is received is spheroidal, but somewhat larger. These parts are strong and durable, and with a small quantity of plumbago or other durable lubricant endure successfully for indefinite periods without attention the peculiar strains due to the end thrust from the direct weight and the lateral force due to the leverage exerted by the weight of the other end of the gate. They will endure all the irregular positions which such neglected mechanism is liable to assume.

I I, &c., are horizonal bolts lying in the positions represented, each extending transversely through and connecting the thin sides of one of the metal corner-pieces. Each carries on its projecting ends two thick pulleys J, each of which may be peripherally grooved to better retain the wire cord K, which is bent partially around it. I prefer that the wire cord shall be a single piece having the ends joined and forming an approximately-rectangular figure, but with the long horizontal parts deflected inward, as shown. The junctions of the ends may be made by any of the ordinary or suitable means, preferably some of the cheaper means employed in wire-rope engineering, taking care that the junction comes between and never on any of the bearings. The function of these wire cords, one on each side, is to draw the corner-pieces together with suificient force to overcome all looseness and maintain the gate in a strong and stiff condition. y I provide for applying a strong and delicately-adjustable tension by the following means:

P is a yoke adapted to extend across between the upper parts of the two wire cords K and is provided with two notches p 1) to in sure their retention in the required position.

Q is a vertical hook-bolt extending loosely through a hole in the center of the yoke I and operated by a stout nut Q. The hook at the lower end of this bolt engages with the bight or upper end of an inverted-U-shaped yoke or double hook R, which is sniiiciently wide to embrace the two diagonals E and F and engage with the lower extensions of the wires K on each side. Turning the nut Q by contracting these parts draws the upper stretch togglewise downward and the lower stretch togglewise upward and applies a strong tension to the wire cords and always equally on both sides by a single operation.

II is an ordinary latch playing within the keeper D and adapted to allow the gate to swing open in either direction.

B is a casting screwed or otherwise secured on the inner face of the post B and carrying two projections B 13", each of which carries an antifriction-roller S, which by its capacity to turn greatly facilitates the rise of the latch as the gate is closed. This arrangement avoids the necessity for frequent lubrication of the catches. As the gate comes to the closed position the projecting end of the latch is brought into contact with one of the rollers, and the partial turning of this roller makes it easy for the latch to rise. As the gate continues to swing the latch after passing that roller will drop into the liberal space provided between this roller and its mate and hold the gate until it is again intentionally lifted to allow the gate to open.

It is important that the gate in closing presents the latch to the rollers S always at a very nearly uniform level. If the latch is carried too high, it will not drop between the rollers far enough to be held if wind or other force acts on the gate, and if too low it will not be properly lifted by the necessarilysmall roller S. The provisions in my gate for completely avoiding the sagging experienced with ordinary gates enable these rollers to serve successfully for a long period.

L is a netting of wire-cloth, the fineness of which may vary with the kind of animals which the gate is designed to stop. I propose that the wire shall be tinned iron, and the netting after completion shall be passed through a tin-bath to unite the several crossings and secure the edges. It may be fixed on either face of the gate by any convenient means, as double-pointed tacks of suitable size.

The invention allows the adjusting of the tightness of all the joints by a single operation, turning the nut Q. Care should be taken not to set up the wires in dry weather so tightly that the wood has not liberty to swell somewhat in wet weather.

For many or most situations the wire cord K should be provided wit-h barbs K, some of which will extend through the side netting and defend the gate against the rubbing of cattle.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. The proportions and the material may be varied. I prefer that the corner-pieces be of low steel wrought into shape by drop-forging or analogous treatment, in which case the main portions may be thin; but it is important that the parts adj aeent to the pivots M M be sufliciently thick to afford a strong support, even after the gate has been much used and the thickness of the bearing adjacent to the lower pivot M is reduced by wear. Ordinary cast-iron may be used for these parts with some success.

The extension of the several bolts I through the diagonal struts E F may be provided by making a hole (not shown) which is sufiiciently oblong to allow the required changes of position when the wire cords K are tightened and relaxed, or such passage may be provided by open slots-in other words, forking the ends of the diagonal struts.

I use the term gate to include also doors.

I have shown the yoke P and the double hook R as of less width than the main timbers D of the gate and have shown the bolts I as too (some a slightly bent near each end, so that the pulleys J stand a little inclined, and thus favor.

the drawing together of the two sets of wirecord ties K near the mid-length of the gate. I esteem such forms and arrangement prefer able, but not essential to the success of the gate.

I claim as my in vention- 1. A gate having a frame and a diagonal brace of wood, a series of metal corner-pieces each embracing an angular junction of two pieces of the frame and a diagonal, in combination with a flexible tie engaging with the several corner-pieces and holding the parts yieldingly with a bolt Q and nut Q for contractin g the tie and thereby making the structure rigid,all substantially as herein specified.

2. A gate having a frame and a diagonal brace of wood, a series of metal corner-pieces each embracing an angular junction of two pieces of the frame and a diagonal, in combination with a flexible tie engaging with the several corner-pieces and holding the parts yieldingly with a bolt Q and nut Q for contractin g the tie and thereby making the structure rigid, one of the corner-pieces having a pivot M formed integral therewith adapted to perform the double function of holding the parts together at a junction and pivotally engaging it with a fixed support, all substantially as herein specified.

3. A gate having a frame and a diagonal brace of wood, a second diagonal crossing the first, a series'of metal corner-pieces each embracing one end of two pieces of the frame inward the corner-pieces through the aid of such pulleys, all substantially as herein specified.

5. In a gate having a frame and diagonal braces of wood united by corner-pieces of metal, the thick loosely-mounted pulleys J, held to the corner-pieces with liberty to turn, in combination with the flexible cords K, one cord and one set of pulleys on each face of the gate, and a yoke P and a double hook R and contracting means Q for tightening the cords on the two faces by a single operation, all substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ARCIIIBALD MURRAY Witnesses:

WM. THORNE, THOMAS BELL. 

